Wine Alert - O'Leary Walker, Cullen and Yalumba

This edition of Corker is dedicated to a few new releases that have caught our attention over the past couple of weeks. First up are a couple of terrific Rieslings from one our Australia's leading exponent of this variety, O'Leary Walker. Both the Watervale and Polish Hill Rieslings from O'Leary Walker display a wonderful complexity and personality that are a reflection of their respective individual sites within the Clare Valley and the near perfect 2008 vintage conditions. Next up is the 2006 Cullen Cabernet Merlot, always one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year. The 2006 Cabernet Merlot is produced from 100% Cullen fruit and is delightfully fresh and complex wine with all the hallmarks of a quality Margaret River Cabernet blend. It should be noted that we have less than ten dozen of this wine available so please be quick.

Lastly we have a feature on Yalumba's 'Rare and Fine' premium red releases from the 2004 vintage. These 'Rare and Fine' wines must surely represent one of the most impressive Premium ranges of reds produced by any Australian producer. All from the super 2004 vintage these wines are likely to be snapped up quickly.

We hope you enjoy the wines featured in this edition.

The team at Auscellardoor

Ph - 1800 088 022.  

We have been huge fans of O'Leary Walker's Riesling for some time. The 2008 vintage of both their Watervale and Polish Hill Rieslings has just been released and having tasted these we can vouch for the outstanding quality of these wines.

"From the first time we looked at the 2008 whites in general, we were excited. What stood out at this stage was the varietal power. The wines were tightly focussed with tremendous flavour and natural acid drive and length" - David O'Leary and Nick Walker

O'Leary Walker Watervale Riesling 2008 - $19.90

"2008 will be a benchmark season for Watervale. Pale straw in colour with a slight green tinge, this wine displays great purity of lime, lemon with hints of musk and fennel. The palate is fine, yet intensely limey and long with a clean, crisp naturally acidic finish and balance" - O'Leary Walker Tasting Notes

O'Leary Walker Polish Hill Riesling 2008 - $21.90

Only 9 kilometres from Watervale, the Polish Hill River region is quite a bit cooler and typically the fruit ripens 2-3 weeks later. This, combined with the soil, produces fruit with finesse and intensity. It is the slate of Polish Hill River, as opposed to the limestone of Watervale that gives rise to the point of difference between these styles. The later ripening of grapes in the Polish Valley works well in the area’s favour.

The fruit in 2008 was in excellent condition and was harvested before any heat later in the vintage season. With out doubt the Polish River wine is as good as we would of hoped for and shows in stark contrast its distinctive fruit characteristics with that of Watervale. The bouquet displays purity of fruit, floral spice with hints of chalk, the palate is fine tight and long with great chalk and minerality dancing on the tongue." - Notes from O'Leary Walker.

Cullen Cabernet Merlot 2006 - $34.90

Cullen's Cabernet Merlot is always one of the year's most anticipated releases. Over past the couple of years this wine has established an outstanding reputation for it's quality and remarkable value for money. Brilliant medium red in colour with a touch of crimson. The bouquet displays an attractive and complex blend of black fruits and a touch of vanillin oak. The palate is delicious, clean and savoury with lots of varietal black fruit characters backed by gently but firm tannins. This is a superb value wine and a fitting ‘little sister’ to Cullen’s flagship Diana Madeline.

“This wine was made entirely from grapes produced on the Cullen family vineyards and is the second label to the Diane Madeline in the Cullen Wines range. The very cool conditions in 2006 yielded delightfully fresh Cabernet Sauvignon fruit, the variety that dominates (84%) this wine and which helped make it remarkably approachable from the moment it was bottled. The other components of this wine, namely 11% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, together with maturation for 18 months in high quality French oak, have enhanced the complexity of the bouquet and palate. – Notes from Cullen.

Yalumba The Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 - $44.90

The Menzies is named in honour of politician and wine enthusiast, Sir Robert Menzies. All fruit using in The Menzies is estate grown at Yalumba’s Coonawarra vineyard, in the heart of Coonawarra’s legendary terra rossa strip

“A very complex nose offers nuances of violet, bay leaf, black olive and oyster shell. The palate opens with mocha and tapenade supported by damsen plum. Full bodied with fine tannins, this stunning wine finishes fresh and balanced. 'The Menzies' is crafted to be enjoyed with full flavoured foods and complements roasted meats and piquant cheese amongst many delicious dishes. – Yalumba Tasting Notes.

“94 Points, Me old mukka Grant Dodd alerted me to this wine and I am glad he did. It's a beauty. I keep thinking I must be getting near the end of the Coonawarra 2004 tastings but there is always something popping up... Aromas of mulberry, cassis, mocha, bayleaf, a little menthol, vanilla and cigar box. A complex beautiful smelling wine. On the palate medium to full bodied with mulberry, plum, dark chocolate, tobacco, mineral and pencilly oak. A most attractive mix of flavours. Good weight and texture with fine grainy powdery tannins. Finishes long and savoury. I am very taken with this wine. I reckon it has a bit of X factor as well as a lot of class." - Gary Walsh, Winorama

Yalumba The Signature Cabernet Shiraz 2004 - $44.90

‘The Signature’ is Yalumba’s tribute to the distinctively Australian Cabernet Shiraz blend. Since its first vintage in 1962, The Signature has established itself as a benchmark example of this iconic style. Perfect conditions for flavour development of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz in 2004 has resulting in an outstanding wine.

“Lifted redcurrant, warm exotic fruits and dark chocolate combine with subtle eucalypt flavours. The wine has a generous yet stylish palate, showing dark plums, cassis, chocolate and long fine tannins giving a wine structured for ageing. The wine will reward with medium to long term cellaring” - Yalumba Tasting Notes.

“94 Points. There was a long period when the Signature was Yalumba's top red, and while there are a couple of wines that now outrank it in price, it's still arguably the best all-purpose wine in the portfolio. It's certainly reliable. This spends two years in oak, and a further two years in bottle, prior to its release. It's fifty-five per cent cabernet sauvignon. It's strong with minty, mulberried fruit flavour, the mintiness making the wine's ultimate blackberried depth remain fresh and fragrant. Toasty oak sits in the background. Lively acidity. It should age like a charm. Drink 2014-2023” - Campbell Mattinson, The Big Red Wine Book.

Yalumba The Octavius Shiraz 2004 - $89.90

Yalumba The Octavius has established a reputation as one of Australia's leading examples of Barossa Shiraz. Being sourced from a number of very old vineyards in the Barossa, The Octavius is matured in American oak 'octaves' of 90 litres capacity. It is the only red wine in the world that is matured in such small barrels. The secret of the wine not becoming overpowered by the oak lies in the wood which is seasoned at Yalumba's own on-site cooperage for eight years before the octaves are crafted.

“A palate of depth and intensity with dark fruits, violets, and floral flavours help to unveil the richness of this wine. Soft, refined tannins give balance and structure. This wine is made for medium to long term cellaring” – Yalumba Tasting Notes

“96 points - "The 2004 The Octavius is 100% Shiraz aged for 22 months in American and Hungarian oak, much of it new. Inky black/purple, it coats the glass with legs. It has an alluring perfume of toasty oak, plum, licorice, blueberry, bacon, blackberry, and a hint of chocolate. Voluptuous and youthful, it has intense flavors, plenty of well-concealed structure, and a 60 second finish. Cellar it for 8-10 years and drink it through 2035." - Dr Jay Miller, The Wine Advocate.